Flu Activity Jumps 9.5% In MD, 4 Deaths Through End Of 2019

BALTIMORE, MD — Nationwide, the flu season went into overdrive with a spike in the final week of the year. In Maryland alone, there was a 9.5 percent increase in outpatient visits to Maryland emergency departments in the last week of the year, according to the Maryland Department of Health. A total of four people died from the flu in the state this flu season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday reported a dramatic spike in flu cases nationwide during the last week of December. Government health officials say 2019 total flu cases through Dec. 28 led to at least 6.4 million illnesses, 55,000 hospitalizations and 2,900 deaths.

For comparison, the CDC reported a total of 4.6 million illnesses, 39,000 hospitalizations and 2,100 deaths in its weekly report ending on Dec. 21.

So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most illnesses are the result of the influenza B/Victoria viruses, which the agency said varies by region and age group. The geographic spread of flu activity does not measure the severity of the virus, but seasonal influenza activity throughout the nation has been climbing for seven weeks in a row.

The latest data from the agency shows that the virus has been widespread or striking regionally in 45 states, including Maryland. In every region of the state, flu activity is high, and outbreaks began ramping up in early December, according to state health officials. There was no updated data released on hospitalizations or deaths in Maryland for the week that ended Dec. 28.

The groups most at risk of the flu are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions, according to the CDC.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (though not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to provide protection against the flu. You can find more information about the flu vaccine and its benefits here.